Man who died after being struck by train near Burnham-on-Sea took his own life, inquest hears

Ian Thompson died on the rail line at Brent Knoll on December 17, 2019 (Image: Google Maps)

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A man who died after being struck by a train near Burnham-on-Sea took his own life, a coroner has ruled.

Ian Thompson was hit as he stood on the railway line at Brent Knoll on December 17 last year.

The 57-year-old had a long history of alcoholism and depression and had made an attempt to take his own life just three months before his death.

Notes with the word 'sorry', that were addressed to his wife and children, were later discovered at the scene by police.

Mr Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene, while a post-mortem found that he had died of multiple traumatic injuries.

In a witness statement read out by senior coroner for Somerset Tony Williams, train driver Richard Heath said he had driven from Stoke Gifford to Taunton earlier that morning in order to start a passenger service to London.

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As a result of his alcoholism, Mr Thompson had lost his job as an IT consultant with the NHS in December 2018 and struggled to find new work.

He had also been diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2019, although doctors were hopeful that he would make a full recovery.

In September of that year, he attempted to end his own life, after which he was admitted to the Rydon Ward in Taunton for treatment.

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He left the Rydon Ward at the end of October and was said to have been hopeful for the future in the weeks leading up to his death.

Mr Williams recorded a conclusion of suicide.

He said: "I have to be satisfied that Ian Thompson died of his own hand, that he intended to end his own life and all other explanations as to how he died have been ruled out.

"There is no suggestion that any third party was involved in his death, there were hand-written notes left and I have a very clear description of what happened from the train driver.

"I therefore note that Ian Thompson died on December 17, 2019, on the northern rail line at Brent Knoll, with the cause of death being multiple traumatic injuries, and I will record a conclusion of suicide."